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September 1989

Occupational change: pursuing a different kind of work

James P. Markey, William Parks, II

More than half of the 10 million workers who switched occupations in 1986 did so because of better pay, working conditions, or advancement opportunities. However, about 1 in 8 of the workers changed occupations because they lost their previous jobs. This article explores the characteristics of those workers who make voluntary and involuntary occupational changes, and examines the pattern of their movement between occupations.

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